The camp is located on a peninsula separated by two lakes in Pinckney, and expects to serve 1,500 area children each year, including those with heart disease, organ transplants, sickle cell disease, cancer and other conditions.

The ceremony was held at the Polo Fields Golf and Country Club in Ann Arbor, where dignitaries, donors, camper families, volunteers, board members and staff gathered to celebrate and thank those who have been involved with North Star Reach since its founding in 2007.

"This groundbreaking is a critical milestone in our efforts to bring a camp for children with serious health challenges to the state of Michigan," Brian Rooney, co-chair of the Capital CAMPaign committee for North Star Reach, said during the event.

"By next year, North Star Reach will welcome children and families, like mine, to a beautiful camp with facilities and programs that are intentionally designed to accommodate their abilities and medical needs."

The camp will be open year-round with a focus on overnight, weeklong camp sessions in the summer for children and family camps on the weekends in spring and fall.

The facility will include a health center, dining hall, cabins to house campers and staff, arts and crafts center, nature trails, athletic court, sports field, an accessible tree house with zap line, archery range, amphitheater and waterfront docks. The facilities and grounds will be universally accessible and programming will include specially adapted equipment to ensure that every camp experience is within the reach of campers.

"Thanks to the ongoing support of the donor community, camp will always be provided free of charge to children and their families," Doug Armstrong, chief executive officer and founder of North Star Reach, said in a release.

"Camp will offer a truly supportive environment for these kids; one where all of their medical needs will be met by professional doctors and nurses and one where they can make new friends with peers facing similar challenges."

The construction of the camp comes with an estimated $26 million price tag. The group was able to raise more than $22 million as of June 2014. Part of the funds were raised early last month when the group hosted its "Under the North Star" Gala at Cornman Farms in Dexter. Former U-M football standout and current St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jake Long, one of North Star's biggest supporters, emceed the event with his wife Jackie Long.

The two pledged $1 million to help fund the camp, and the event also netted more than $500,000 through silent and live auctions.

The University of Michigan owns the Livingston County property. North Star and the university came to terms on an agreement that would allow the organization to lease the property for 30 years at just $1 per year, with two additional 10-year lease options for $1 per year after the initial 30-year lease expires.

First Choice Building of Southfield is managing construction of the facility, which is expected to be completed in fall of 2015.